Essay (1500 words)

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POLITICAL IDEAS IN ACTION

MODULE HANDBOOK 4PIRS010W – 20 (UK) CREDITS

2020-2021 - SEMESTER 1

Teaching Timetable

Lectures (asynchronous): Weekly Panopto Recordings released each Monday (not in first week) to watch by the following week

Workshop (live): Mondays 14:00-15:00, Bb Collaborate. Weekly PIR Skills and Information session for Level 4 students (live)

Seminar: Mondays, Bb Collaborate. A weekly two-hour smaller group session for discussion and group activities.

Seminar Times: please check your personal timetable and attend your allocated group 12:00-14:00 Grp 2 Bridget Cotter 15:30-17:30 Grp 5 Rob Macmaster 12:00-14:00 Grp 3 Rob Macmaster 15:30-17:30 Grp 6 Luis Nunes Martins 12:00-14:00 Grp 4 Luis Nunes Martins 15:30-17:30 Grp 7 Bridget Cotter

Staff Contacts

Dr Bridget Cotter (Module Leader)

Rob Macmaster Luis Nunes Martins

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Office Hours: Tuesday 11-12:30 Office Hours: Wednesday 10-12:00 Office Hours: Monday 11-12:00

Bridget's Virtual Office Rob's Virtual Office Luis's Virtual Office

Politics and International Relations, School of Social Sciences, University of Westminster

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Welcome and Contents

Welcome to the study of all things political! We very much hope you enjoy the module and get lots out of it.

During the coming year, together we explore the ideas embedded in our political institutions and social

structures and in current political debates and issues. If we pay attention, we will become better at uncovering

the values and assumptions that underpin the words and deeds of political actors. We will see the thinking

behind the way societal and political institutions are structured, the beliefs and assumptions behind political

actions and behaviours, and the values that inform political and social practices. Most likely we will come to

question some aspects of these structures and practices whilst coming to understand why we cherish and value

others. We all hope that, through practising this critical approach to the political world, we will reach a better

understanding of the way things are, how to preserve the things we love, and change the things we don’t. It is

hoped that through this journey will become better at saying exactly what we mean in the spoken and the

written word. But, at the very least, we will get better at formulating and asking questions!

The aim of the module, therefore, is to encourage and help you to read and reflect on, analyse and interpret,

question and criticise, defend and justify, the political phenomena (the institutions, the political actors, the social

structures, and the ideas and values) that you see all around you. At its best, political studies offers a set of

spectacles that will enable you to see new things or see familiar matters in a new way, if you are willing to look.

But we do not tell you what to think. We aim to help you figure out what you think about what you see and

experience and why. As a Politics student, one of your aims will be to learn to recognise your own positions, and

to justify these well in writing and group discussion, but also to listen to other views, and to give thoughtful and

considered responses.

To do well and to fully engage with your studies, your full participation in this module is required, including:

• Reading the whole Module Handbook and looking through the Politics and IR Course Handbook in the first couple of weeks of the term.

• Learning your way around the Module Bb site, the Reading List, the Library, the PIR Bb site, and the PIR Red Book.

• Attending your Seminar and the Workshop every week and watching the Panopto Lecture ahead of your seminar.

• Being prepared to discuss the previous week’s reading and lecture topic. This includes sharing your opinions and understandings of what you have read, and asking any questions you have. Above all, be curious and exploratory, and remember: there are no stupid questions!

• Logging into lectures and seminars in good time, ready to focus and get the most out of your studies. This includes switching off your phone for the duration and making sure you are organised and have everything you might need to hand.

• Taking good notes in lectures and seminars - including noting down any thoughts or questions you have whilst you are listening and discussing. And then voicing these questions in seminars.

• Completing the weekly Exercise Sheets (including set reading, notetaking and writing tasks and other academic skills-based tasks), submitting Exercise Sheet work in good time and to the required submission portal, and watching the recorded Panopto lecture ahead of your seminar.

• Spending sufficient time on the set reading and also on background reading to get to grips with the subject matter (use the module reading list). Bear in mind that in addition to the module teaching time, you should expect to spend at least another 4 hours per week (on average) per module across the 12 weeks.

• Spending time each week after lectures and seminars consolidating what you have learnt.

• Seeking out help with academic skills when you need it and continuing to work on your writing and other academic skills independently (see Sources of Support on Bb).

• Using the Module’s Bb Discussion Board (instead of email) to ask questions about the module (unless

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your query is genuinely confidential).

• Keeping up to date with political events by reading a range of high quality news sources. These should include: serious broad sheets such as The Independent, The Guardian, The Observer, The Financial Times, The Times, The Telegraph; political weeklies, such as The Economist the New Statesman, Prospect, The Spectator; quality online news sources, such as Politics.co.uk, BBC News Online, The Conversation, Associated Press News, Reuters (this is the UK Edition, but click the upper left link for other language/country editions, DailyPolitics.com (for UK Politics only) NewsAndNews.com and C-Span (for US Politics). Be aware that almost all news sources are politically biased. See MediaBiasFactCheck.com and Snopes.com to check your source’s bias and read a range of (quality) perspectives!

Indicative Content

In politics, the most used concepts (such as freedom, equality, power, democracy) are the most contested.

Hence, the very meaning of political concepts and the way we use language is the subject of political dispute.

What, for example does it mean to be "equal"? What does it mean to be free? When we talk about equality, for

example, do we refer to an economic equality, a political or legal equality, or a moral equality? And what role,

if any, does the state have in judging these ideals or in helping us to achieve them? In Political Ideas in Action

we explore a range of possible answers to these questions as given by political thinkers and actors today and in

the past. In doing so, the module facilitates the development of your critical thinking skills and judgement. It

hopefully helps you to become more able to spot the values underpinning political opinions, statements, and

practices, including your own! The module demonstrates and teaches methods of constructing political and

academic arguments through an examination of the historical foundations of liberal democracy, the competing

ideologies that operate within and sometimes against it, and the ways in which political power is allocated, won

and lost.

PIA Teaching Programme and Assessment Deadlines Topics are indicative and may be subject to change.

Date Lecture Topic (Panopto) Workshop 2-3pm (Live) Seminar (Live)

Week 1 21 Sep

Welcome to Political Ideas in Action Opening Lecture Information Session: Intro to DEN

Introductions, Technology, Political Compass Exercise Sheet 1: about you

Week 2 28 Sep

Political Concepts, Political Knowledge – and how we study politics

Skills Workshop Identifying Your Sources Finding, evaluating and using Sources.

Information Session: Student Reps: expressions of interest

Exercise Sheet 2 Due The purpose(s) of Politics Political Concepts

Skill: Active Reading and Notetaking

Week 3 5 Oct

The Idea of the State: Legitimacy and Sovereignty

Skills Workshop Essays Writing: getting started Essay Planning/Research, interpreting essay questions, thesis statements, writing introductions, compiling the bibliography

Information Session: Student Reps announcement or elections if needed

Exercise Sheet 3 Due

Political Knowledge, Language, Political Studies, Beliefs, Ideologies, Methods, Theory, Analysis, Arguments and Evidence

Skill: Evaluating Sources

Week 4 12 Oct

Power, Freedom, Equality Skills Workshop Bibliographies and in-line

Exercise Sheet 4 Due

Sovereignty, Legitimacy, Social

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Referencing (How-to)

Information Session: Employability

Contract theory Skills: Interpreting Questions and Good Introductions

Week 5 19 Oct

Power and Ideology Information Session: topic tbc (15- 20 min)

Followed by Emergency Assessment Help Drop-in

Exercise Sheet 5 Due

Dimensions of Power - and the effects on freedom and Equality

Introduction and Bibliography Due – Submit to Turnitin by Wednesday, 21 October 2020, 1pm.

WEEK 6 – Independent Study Week – no classes, undertake research for your essay and READ!

Week 7 2 Nov

Liberal Freedoms: Rights, Markets, Democracy

Information Session: topic tbc Exercise Sheet 6 Due Power and Ideology The third Dimension of Power

Week 8 9 Nov

Competing Ideologies? Liberalism, Conservatism and Socialism

Essay Structure and Writing Arguments, Structure, Narrative and Conclusions

Exercise Sheet 7 Due The main ideologies of Liberalism and Liberal Democracy

Week 9 16 Nov

Liberal Exclusions: anti- racist and feminist critiques

Plagiarism and misuse of sources

Exercise Sheet 8 Due

Left and Right in the 21 st

Century

Week 10 23 Nov

Politics, Religion, and Morality

Emergency Essay Help Drop-In Exercise Sheet 9 Due BLM and Feminism

Week 11 30 Nov

Neoliberalism, Populism, and the Revival of Politics?

About the Quiz Exercise Sheet 10 Due Religion and Politics Preparing for the Quiz

Essay (1500 words) Due – Submit to Turnitin by Wednesday, 2 December 2020, 1pm.

Week 12 7 Dec

PIA End of Term Quiz – 12:00 - 15:00. In practice this session will be around 2.5 hours and it should be FUN!

Where to go for help

Most of your questions are addressed in this module handbook. Please read it carefully first. Get familiar with

the layout so you can refer back to it often. Further written information about the module content and structure

is available on the Module’s Blackboard Site. Please familiarise yourself with the layout of the Political Ideas in

Action Blackboard site so you can easily find what you need there when you need it. Some of the Reading

Materials for the module are available on the Module’s on-line Reading List. This is accessible through

Blackboard but you can bookmark it separately to go straight there at any time. You can also use the Library

Search and the Library Help pages for further sources and help with research. We have a dedicated Library

Liaison, Lorna Rosbottom, for Politics and IR (amongst other subjects), and you can also use the chat function

“Ask a Librarian” on the Library Help page.

For advice about essay writing, exercise sheets, learning portfolios, and other assessment requirements, please

speak to your seminar tutor and see “Study Skills and Learning Support” on the PIA Blackboard site. It is

generally best to talk to seminar tutors during seminar times when they are focussed on the module rather than

outside class or by email. There is usually time before, after (or even during) seminar group sessions for a one-

to-one chat. However, for more detailed issues, we also hold office hours which are open to all of our students

from first year to post-graduate. It is a good idea to speak to your seminar tutor in the first instance during the

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seminar when you can set a mutually convenient appointment if one is needed. If you want to email someone

about missing a seminar, write to your seminar tutor and copy in (CC) the Module Leaders.

To inform us of missing or late assessments, and for issues (such as illness or other serious obstacles) affecting

your assessments, you should contact your personal tutor and the Module Leader. You do not have to share

details of problems with all of us, but it is important to speak to at least one of us about why you are missing

assessment, and do at least let the Module Leader know your assessment will be late or missing (with or

without detailed information about why). If you miss an essay deadline, you will need to apply for Mitigating

Circumstances to enable your work to be marked and counted. Your personal tutor or the Registry can advise

you about applying for permission to submit work late, or what to do if you cannot submit it at all within a week

of the deadline. You can also find information about the Mitigating Circumstances process on the Student Hub.

There are strict rules about late work and non-submission and your lecturers and seminar tutors do not have

the power to give you permission to submit essays late. Learning Portfolio is a little different from other

assessments, so please speak to the Module Leader about this if you find you are missing a lot of weeks and

getting very far behind.

For problems with the running of the module itself, questions about lecture content, about the design and

planning of the module, about any of the written information available (here or online), or with seminar

allocation, speak to or write to the Module Leader through the Discussion Board. If you have a problem and

are not sure who to ask: start with the Discussion Board or email the Module Leader if it is highly confidential.

If you have an issue, but feel you cannot speak to the appropriate person, then please do speak to any of the

staff on the module, your personal tutor, or a Course Leader. Bear in mind that, although we are all busy and

may seem hard to approach at times, we are very interested in your queries, problems and ideas - and we hope

you will always give us the chance to address any concerns you might have by letting us know at the earliest

possible time, and approaching us directly.

When sending emails, please think about whether you could put the question on the Discussion Board instead.

If needing to email, then please address your tutors politely, and by their name, and sign your full name and

include your student ID. Also provide a subject in the subject line. Always explain why you are writing as we all

administer and teach on multiple modules and have other roles within the School. Make it clear in the message

who you are (in relation to the member of staff to whom you are writing), and which topic, module or seminar

group you are writing about. Bear in mind that, due to other commitments, your seminar tutor may not be able

to respond for a few days. Further: weekends and evenings are not usually times when you can expect a reply.

Module Aims and Learning Outcomes

Our module aims are to:

• Introduce you to politics and political theory as academic disciplines

• Introduce you to a range of key political concepts, ideologies, and theories

• Identify tools for political analysis, explanation, and evaluation

• Show how theories inform and explain political practice

• Demonstrate how political concepts can be applied to understand political phenomena

• Develop your understanding of how political arguments are constructed and used

• Help you develop your academic and transferable skills

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate a good understanding of the characteristics of politics as a discipline;

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• Critically evaluate some of the most influential approaches to studying politics;

• Understand and use a range of basic concepts and theories relevant to the study of politics;

• Appreciate the connection between historical events and ideas, on the one hand, and current political

beliefs and assumptions, on the other.

• Attend to the interplay between political theory and political practice;

• Engage in current political debates around institutions and ideological conflicts;

• Appreciate the contested, dynamic, nature of politics;

• Benefit from increased intellectual confidence, improved study skills and employability.

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught through regular seminars and lectures, and embedded academic skills workshops. Students are expected to prepare comprehensively for seminars and to participate as best they can.

Activity type Category Student learning and

teaching hours* Lecture Recorded 12 (approx.) Seminar Scheduled 24

L4 Skills Workshops and Info Sessions and other events (e.g. The Quiz)

Scheduled 12 (approx.)

Total Scheduled 48 Independent Study 52

Total student learning and teaching hours 100

*the hours per activity type are indicative and subject to change.

At least half of the learning you will be doing on this and all modules at Level 4 is independent. The proportion

of independent learning will likely increase as you progress through the levels of your course. You will learn

through reading, thinking, writing and also talking with your fellow students.

Formal teaching on this module takes place through weekly lectures (60-75 minutes), seminars (2 hours), and

weekly skills and information sessions (20-60 minutes).

Weekly lectures are normally delivered in a lecture theatre to everyone on the module at once, and are designed

to provide an overview of the weekly topic. Currently, we deliver these as Panopto recordings and you are

expected to watch these and take notes (just as if you were present in a lecture) in time for the following week’s

seminar. However, we do not give lectures to give you all the answers; we give them to help you start asking

questions, and to act as a guide to your further reading on and exploration of the module topics. You can prepare

for lectures by reading around the topic in one of the many introductory politics text books listed on the reading

list, and also by completing some of the following week’s exercise sheet before watching the lecture. Lecture

slides and recordings will be posted on Bb by Monday night in the week before the seminar session on the same

topic. There is no recorded lecture in Weeks 1, 6 or 12.

Weekly Seminars take place in smaller groups with no more than 25 students. In our seminars, we focus on the

lecture topic from the week before and the Exercise Sheet that you completed in advance. You will be expected

to take an active part in the discussion, and to undertake work in small break-out groups during the seminar.

Currently, these sessions take place on Bb Collaborate. Normally they would be in a smaller seminar room rather

than in a lecture theatre. Ahead of each seminar, you will have read set material in preparation and you should

be prepared to discuss this reading, including what you learnt from it and what you thought of it. Speaking in

public like this can be daunting, but it is a great way to learn and stretch yourself and to try out your political

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ideas and understandings before you put them into work that will be given a mark. Also, as speaking in public is

central to political life, it is important to practice!

Weekly Workshops are given on Collaborate and you are also expected to attend these. Normally, these would

be part of a longer lecture, following the Topic lecture, and would have taken place in a lecture theatre. We

decided to keep this session live so that you could ask questions during the session. Many of these sessions have

an academic skills content that feeds directly into the Exercise Sheets and the seminar work. But these skills will

also be useful for all of your modules and in your working life beyond university. Other sessions include

information or activities for Level 4 students. These sessions help to integrate you into the life of our Politics and

International Relations community within the School of Social Sciences. They help you develop as a student and

keep you informed of important requirements, opportunities and services within the University. These sessions

will vary in length between 30 and 60 minutes depending on what needs to be done that week.

One further session that you will be expected to attend is the Quiz. Previously, this was a pub-style Quiz with

student Quiz Teams. This will now take place through Collaborate. The Quiz is designed to assess your general

knowledge of the module, but also to provide a fun way to round off the module teaching. This takes place in

the final week of term in place of both lectures and seminars.

Overall, it is best to think of your learning on this module as a partnership: between you the student, us, the

academics teaching on the module, your classmates - and also the many authors you will read. All sides must

contribute for this to work: passive students don’t learn! When people begin to study politics they inevitably

bring their previous views and assumptions with them: of course, your interest will have been sparked by

particular political events, perhaps by a desire to understand or to change the world! But if you are going to do

that properly, you must be prepared to face challenges, to think and reflect critically on what you read and see,

and even on your own beliefs and assumptions about the world. This isn’t always easy, but it is worth the effort.

We hope that it will help you to develop and grow as a student, as a citizen, and as a fully developed individual.

You may well keep some of the assumptions and beliefs you came in with. But here at university, we will expect

you to justify them using sound argument that is backed up by relevant concepts, workable theories, coherent

reasoning, and well-researched evidence. Either way, you will be challenged by the reading, thinking and

learning you will do on this module and by the views and ideas of your classmates. However, that challenge is

surely why you decided to join us on this exploration of one of the most exciting and topical areas of study:

Politics!

Assessment Components, Rationale and Marking Criteria

The assessment regime is designed to encourage engagement with political concepts, political theories, and

political ideologies. It provides students with a range of analytical and theoretical tools with which they can

learn to critically examine the political world. It also introduces students to the key academic skills required for

further study in Politics, International Relations and Development Studies. There are three pieces of

assessment and together they support and evaluate the development and final level of student achievement

of the module learning outcomes. Each piece contributes a percentage to your total mark for the module.

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ASSESSMENT TYPE WEIGHTING DUE DATE FEEDBACK AND MARK

CW 1 Learning Portfolio

30% Various tasks submitted by various datesand different methods

(General feedback given to class over the semester) Total Mark: end of module via Bb.

CW 2 Introduction and Bibliography (500 Words, approximately)

20% 1 pm, Wednesday, 21 October 2020 Submitted to Turnitin

Available on Bb -Turnitin Wednesday, 11 November

2020

CW 3 Essay (1500 words) (+/-10% leeway in word count)

50% 1 pm, Wednesday, 2

December 2020,

submitted to Turnitin

Available on Bb – Turnitin

Wednesday, 6 January 2021

Coursework Assessment 1 Learning Portfolio

The portfolio addresses is designed to build student confidence and skills in the core research, reading and

writing tasks required to study Politics and International Relations, as well as to encourage reflection on the

transition to higher education and the building of vital peer networks. Further, specific elements of the

Portfolio constitute and/or encourage student participation in classroom-based learning. Students will

complete the portfolio throughout the term, via tasks which will be set weekly on the module. These will

include:

- 10 Exercise Sheets that include the following (in summary):

o Nine reading note tasks to be submitted ahead of the seminar and assessed by the seminar

tutor on a pass/fail basis. These will help students build knowledge of disciplinary literature;

and will train them in how to locate pre-selected texts, read critically, take useful notes, keep

track of sources, provide full bibliographic and inline references. Notes must be presented

during a specified time, according to the specified method, and conforming to a published

template.

o Seven skills tasks to be submitted ahead of the seminar and assessed by the seminar tutor on

a pass/fail basis. These will help students develop essential academic and professional skills.

Notes must be presented during a specified time, according to the specified method, and

conforming to a published template.

o Where an Exercise Sheet contains both types of tasks, students must submit both tasks in the

same document.

o Credit for the above is given for a combination of completing the Task and also attending and

participating in the seminar that takes place on the day the Exercise Sheet work is due.

In marking the portfolio, academic staff will consider whether the Tasks in question have been completed

appropriately, and whether or not the student has attended and participated in the relevant session.

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Learning Portfolio Breakdown of Components

Weighting (as percentage of Learning Portfolio mark)

Date Due (For how to submit your work, follow the instructions on each Sheet)

10 Exercise Sheets

containing altogether:

- 9 Reading Notes Tasks

- 7 Skills Tasks

80%

(Each completed task gains 5

points on a pass/fail basis. To gain

credit, you must present them by

the date, time, and method

specified on the Exercise Sheet

AND be prepared to speak to your

notes during the seminar.)

Exercise Sheet 1: during Week 1 (by Friday, 25th September

Sheet 2: by 12 noon, 28 September

Sheet 3: by 12 noon, 5 October

Sheet 4: by 12 noon, 12 October

Sheet 5: by 12 noon, 19 October

Sheet 6: by 12 noon, 2 November

Sheet 7: by 12 noon, 9 November

Sheet 8: by 12 noon, 16 November Sheet 9: by 12 noon, 23rd November Sheet 10: by 12 noon, 30th November

End of term On-line Quiz 10

points for participation

10 points for being in the

top five in the class.

20%

During Class on Monday, 7th December

Portfolio Element: Exercise Sheets (in detail)

Your Learning Portfolio includes the completion of weekly tasks outlined in ten Exercise Sheets submitted in

Weeks 1-5 and 6-11. You will be required to submit this work by 12 noon on the day of your seminar seminars

throughout the year. Most of the exercise sheets involve a specified reading to take notes on, and a few

questions to answer. Some also include a skills-based task to help you develop essential academic skills that you

will use and continue to develop throughout your time at university.

Locating and reading academic texts, and taking meaningful notes, which both summarise and engage with the

arguments presented in those texts, are key skills at university. Moreover, you need to be able to cite the sources

you read using an accepted referencing system (PIR uses the Harvard or the Westminster Harvard system). The

exercise sheets assessments are designed to help you develop these core skills, by encouraging regular reading,

note-taking, referencing, and reflection as well as some skills practice. At the same time, they widen your

knowledge of the subject matter, prepare you for seminars, and help provide a bit of “boot camp” in the skill of

academic reading. You do need to get those “Reading Muscles” up to scratch for the tasks ahead!

The exercise sheets are marked on a pass/fail basis. That is, if you submit them and they clearly demonstrate

that you have read and engaged with the required reading for that week, and you attend the corresponding

seminar and are prepared to use your notes in your participation in case discussions, then you will get a pass

mark of 100% of the task. Some Exercise Sheets have two tasks, in which case you get credit for each of the two

tasks that you complete that week. This includes keeping track of references for reading notes.

If you don’t submit your notes at the correct time and place, or you don’t attend, you will get a zero for that

exercise sheet. If your notes are badly incomplete or do not address the task, you may be asked to do them

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again for the following week or you may not be given credit. IMPORTANT: To get credit for your notes you must

also attend the corresponding seminar.

If you are unable to attend a seminar, or unable to complete your tasks in time, you may submit the work for

your exercise sheet by the following Monday at noon, and they will then be marked as usual. However, you are

only eligible to gain credit for late notes (or to gain credit for notes where you did not attend the

corresponding seminar) three times. Beyond these three, you must apply for Mitigating Circumstances via the

usual process. Please do not attempt to submit any notes early or by email. If you do find you are slipping badly

behind or you are ill for a protracted period and cannot attend, then please do contact the Module Leader by

email.

Portfolio Element: Quiz in Week 12

Your Learning Portfolio includes participation in a group quiz on the final day of class. The Quiz is designed to

assess your general knowledge of the module, and will be based on material covered in Lectures, Seminars and

Exercise Sheets. You will receive 10 points just for participating. There is a chance to gain an extra 10 points for

your Learning Portfolio if you have enough correct answers to put level with other students who scored in the

top 5%. Please note that this session takes place on the Monday from 12-3pm and replaces all PIA lectures and

seminars for that week. Other than reading through your notes from lectures, seminars, and your own reading,

including the Exercise Sheets, you will not need to do any special research for the quiz.

Coursework Assessment 2: Introduction and Bibliography

The Introduction and Bibliography assessment of approximately 500 words is designed as a practical writing

exercise to help students learn to write an effective introductory paragraph, and to formulate a thesis

statement tailored to a specific essay question, thereby assessing the ability to interpret the essay question

appropriately. CW2 will also require a full-length bibliography of at least six academic sources for the essay

title. It is expected that students will spend around 150 words on the introduction and the remaining words on

the bibliography. As well as being a summative assessment worth 20% of the mark, the essay introduction and

bibliography is also a formative assessment in helping students to prepare for CW3. CW2 will be due in Week 5

so students receive feedback before they write the essay.

Students must base their assessment on one of the module essay questions. However, they are not required

to complete their CW3 essay on the same question they answered in CW2 (although they may if they wish to).

In marking the introduction and bibliography, academic staff will consider:

- Correct interpretation of the essay question;

- The likelihood that the arguments and evidence referred to will address the question;

- The ability to write a thesis statement or argument;

- Evidence of a structured and logical approach to the essay;

- Succinct and grammatical writing;

- Bibliography presented in the correct format;

- An appropriate selection of texts for the essay title and for the level of study

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Coursework Assessment 3: Essay (1500 words)

The essay is designed to establish firm study skills, especially as they relate to the importance of selecting and

applying evidence in the research process. Students are required to respond to an essay question and to

demonstrate their ability to structure political arguments and substantiate these through appropriate research

materials and evidence.

In marking the essay, academic staff will consider:

• The ability to construct a well-supported argument, using evidence, including academic literature and

historical and contemporary political examples and the persuasiveness of the argument;

• The ability to apply theory and concepts to political reality

• The capacity to engage meaningfully with concepts, themes and theories required for the study of

Politics and Political Theory, and which are covered on the module;

• Evidence of critical engagement with key debates in disciplinary literature;

• The breadth and depth of analysis;

• The ability to logically identity and unpack key claims about the study of politics;

• The capacity to put forward scholarly arguments, informed by engagement with the module and

independent research as indicated in the relevant course learning outcomes;

• Written presentation and organisation, and the ability to write clear, succinct and grammatical English;

• Evidence of creative and lateral thinking where appropriate.

Essay Questions

Instructions

Please get as close to the required word length as possible. There is 10% leeway above or below the word count,

but it is usually unwise to use less than 1500 words for the essay. The bibliography is not counted as part of the

word length. Essays must be submitted to Turnitin via Blackboard. You do not have to choose the same question

for both assignments.

If writing your essay on the same question as you used for CW2, we would expect to see some development in

your work, based on feedback, and also based on the extended reading and reflection you will do when

completing the finished essay.

1. “Politics is about who gets what, when and how.” (Lasswell 1936). Discuss.

2. Why does Lukes argue that power affect us in insidious ways? Use examples to illustrate how this works.

3. What is the purpose of the state and why do we accept its authority?

4. Should the state curtail civil liberties in the name of protecting citizens? Discuss with reference to contemporary political events.

5. Why hasn’t liberal democracy delivered political and legal equality for all citizens within the state?

6. To what extent are free-market liberals right to argue that the state should not get involved in making citizens socially or economically equal?

7. Should there be a strict firewall between religion and politics?

8. Is the recent rise of populism a sign of a democratic revival?

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FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING COURSEWORK

In addition to the information contained in this Module Handbook, which is specific to the assessment for the

module, you need to be aware of general guidance and policies for coursework submission in Politics & IR.

Instructions and guidance relating to these these and other procedures can be found in the PIR Red Book. You

should consider this your ‘How To’ guide. The PIR Red Book can be found on the Politics and International

Relations Blackboard site.

The current version of the Politics and IR Course Handbook provides detailed information about regulations

relating to:

• Submitting your work

• Late submission

• Plagiarism and referencing

• Mitigating circumstances

• Word limits

• Essay grading

The Politics and IR Course Handbook can be found on the Politics and International Relations Blackboard site

under My Organisations.

For information about Academic progression, condoned credits, and referral opportunities, see the Handbook

of Academic Regulations (section 17).